Show I MiddlcClass Culture Fitly Years Ago Fifty years ago people studied Daniel and the Apocalypse to ascertain the ap proach of time millennium by which was meant at least III the evangelical circles in which 1 was brought up not the steady diminution ot human Illy but time thou sand years reign of the saint and tho second julvonl The usual If not tho only objection then urged to the Immi I nence ot the consummation of all things was that the lost ten tribes must fi rol hn discovered and that the Jew > must be j restored to tho hol > land It wets also a debated question whether the Pope was Antlcnrlst Dr Cummin was then at the height of his fame and his books had a largo circulation but hls plo > hetlcnl pretensions were shared by almanacs Old AlooreB and Kndklels which were to be found In almost every household Their political forecasts commanded consider able credence although their daily weath or predictions so constantly belied by events vcrrj rapidly losing caste The clninscs of tho moon wore believed how ever to determine the weather Another way or reading the future was to open the Bible at random on New Years morn ing anti tho text on which your thumb rested portended your destiny In the com lug year Dreams wero not much heed ed but presentiments had Importance and very few people ventured to sit down tintoon to dinner for fear of dying within the year albeit reasoners weT be inning lo explain tluit ono in thirteen Wits somclhlnJ like time ordinary rate oC mortality Nor would many have set out on a journey Ol transacted business on a Friday Westminster Review |